ICT contracting landscape changes: ITCRA

The ICT contracting landscape over the past six months is changing to include a "two–speed" contract market that sees a rise of short duration contracts as well as longer-term contracts.

The ICT contracting landscape over the past six months is changing to include a "two-speed" contract market that sees a rise of short duration contracts as well as longer-term contracts.

In its latest SkillsMatch (Dec 2012 -- May 2013 inclusive) ICT contractor movement report, industry body ITCRA indicated that strong markets are offering many longer-term contracts for roles such as business intelligence consultants, as well as short duration contracts for roles like test analysts.

ITCRA CEO, Julie Mills, said contracting still remains a common form of work in Australia's ICT marketplace with about two thirds of contracts in ICT occurring on the east coast, and 13 plus month contracts re-emerging in some areas.

According to Mills, the trend will further evolve into a split between high volume entry level generalist roles such as helpdesk offering short duration contracts, as well as lower volume specialist or high experience roles such as business intelligence which will become permanent or longer duration contracts. "This will mean some specialised talent will be out of the market for longer periods - the counter to this is less movement and availability of these specialised skills across the market," she said.

The report also indicated that 46 per cent of ICT contractors in the ACT are from interstate and ACT ICT contractors showed the greatest willingness to relocate. Twenty-two per cent of ACT candidates were reported to take contracts from interstate.

"I would caution that the proximity to NSW might be skewing this data but even so, there is definitely a stronger tendency for ICT contractor movement in and out of the ACT even it is only across the border." Most other states indicated that ICT contractors preferred working locally.

Mills said that going forward, the ACT market will lose some ground as the drawn out election process continues.